Collator



A. E. RINEER Sept. 21,1954

COLLATOR 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1946 Sept 21, 1954 A. E. RINEER 2,689,727

COLLATOR Filed Jan. 4, 19.46`

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. E. RIN EER Sept. 21, 1954 COLLATOR 5 Sheeqs-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 4, 1946 Sept 21, 1954` I A. E. RlNr-:ER 2,689,727

COLLATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. E. RINEER Sept. 21, 1954 COLLATOR s sheets-sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1946 Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED sTATEseATsNT OFFICE COLLATOR Arthur E. aimer, Centerville, ohiol Application January 4, 1946, Serial No. 639,095

17 Claims. l

This invention relates to a collating machine and more particularly to a collating machine for stacking sheet material in a predetermined order.

In the manufacture Of pads consisting of blanks in job printing establishments, the blanks are usually selected from stacks manually and then bound. Although great efficiency has been acquired by the stackers, the operation has proved rather expensive.

An object of this invention is to provide a collating machine for assembling blanks of various types, some of which may be printedor have other symbols or designations thereon, `others may be plain, functioning either as a copy receiving blank, as a copy transfer, standard forms or as a page for instructions, et cetera.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collating machine that picks up blanks from various stacks and stacks these blanks or pages in a predetermined order upon an assembly stack.

Another object of this invention is` to provide Another object of `this invention is to provide a plurality of collating units operating in seriatim, each of l said collating Vunits being adapted to pick up sheets of material frompredetermined stacks and deposit the sheets of mate-` rial in seriatim upon a stack, eachof saidfco1lat ing units being adjustable so as to remove sheets from preselected stacks. l

Other objects and advantages reside in the ciw construction of parts, the combination thereofV and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l showsa top plan View with one collating unit completely shown, one shown in part and the remaining units omitted.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of the frame taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

and a front elevational view of one of the collat-` ing units.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of a portionv taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5A is an enlarged iront elevational view of -a eollating unit showing the pneumatic system in cross section.

`Figure 6 is a schematic top plan View of a collating unit to illustrate the arrangement of the tripping mechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end view of a control drum. n

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the drum shown in Figure 7'.

Figure 9 discloses a control relay.

In the drawings, the reference character 20 indicates a hollow base. The base 20 is stationary and may be any suitable shape adapted to support the weight of the mechanism associated with the collating units. The base 20 supports a hollow cylindrical drum 22 mounted for rotation. The drum 22, together with the parts mounted thereon, is rotated by means of a V- eelt 2li seated in :a V-groove 26 fixed to the drum 22 and driven by a V-pulley 28 keyed to a shaft Sii driven vby an electric motor 32 that may be mounted upon a bracket 34 xedly secured to the interior of the base-A26. The motor 32 need not necessarily be mounted in the base, it may be mounted upon the' base or elsewhere. In-` stead of using aV-belt drive, the drum 22 may be driven by the motor` 32 through any other suitoi the angle irons Withinthe drum 22 ixedly at;

cached to a vertically 'disposed core memberr mounted within the center of the drum 22. Each angeiron til hasits outer end supported by a brace t, having the inner end attached `to the member dit'. The braces iii are preferably pro vided with turnbuckle adjustment, not shown,

se as fto raise thecuter ends of the angle irons,

t? to the proper level. The adjusting mechanism for the braces Mi has net been shown, as `any suitable adjusting `mechanisn'l may be used Within purview of this invention. Each angle iron it provides support for a collating unit which will now be described.`

Each of the collating units is provided with means for picking up a sheet of paper or other sheet material mounted upon stacks located in a Y circular row `underneath the collating units. The sheet material `is preferably picked up by suction means and subsequently deposited upon a stack or" material, where the sheets are assembled j in predetermined order. The control means for:

instituting the operation of a collating unit and for discharging the sheets at the proper station will be described after the details of the collating unit have been described.

As may best be seen by referring to Figure 4, the angle iron 40 supports a pair of brackets 50, each terminating in a bifurcated portion having a pair of furcations 52 and 54 joined by a semispherical slot supporting a hollow tube 56 held in position by a helical spring 50.

The tube 56 has its inner end connected to the cylindrical drum 22. The cylindrical drum 22 is provided with suitable apertures for receiving the ends of the tubes 56, so that the passages in the tubes 56 communicate with the hollow cylindrical cavity in the cylindrical drum 22. The springs 58 provide a lexible support for the tubular member, so that as the drum 22 and the arms 40 rotate about the vertical axis of the drum 22, the springs 58 permit a certain amount of give or yield, so as to remove the strains and stresses that would otherwise be set up in the tubes 56.

The outer end of each tubular member 56 supports a valve mechanism which includes a tubular member 60 held in position on the end of the tubular member 56 by a suitable sealing ring 62 that is fixedly secured between the outer end of the tube 56 and the tube 60. A second tubular member 64 is mounted in a collar 66 and supported upon another bracket 50 and held in position by another tension spring 58, substantially identical to the structure described in connection with the tubular member 56. `The tubular member 60 is provided with a plurality of apertures and the tubular member 64 is provided with a plurality of apertures 12.

A third tubular member 14 is located within the rtubular members 60 and 64, The tubular member 14 has xedly attached thereto a collar 80 provided with a stud and roller 32 engaging a trigger arm 84, which will be described more fully later. with a plurality of apertures 86 and 88. When the tubular member is located in the position shown in Figure 5, the apertures 86 register with the'apertures T2 in the tubular member 64. The apertures 88 are out of registry with the apertures l0. Disc-like sealing members 00, one in the end of the tube 60 and the other in the end of the tube 64, seal the ends of the tubes. When tubular member 'i4 is in the position shown in Figure 5, the interior of the tubular members,

The tubular member '|4 is provided or the valve mechanism, is open to the atmosphere surrounding the device. The function of this valve mechanism will be described more fully later. Sufiice to say at this time that the collar 60 may be oscillated so as to cause the apertures 60 to register with the apertures 10,]at which time the apertures 12 are out of registry with the apertures 86, which results in the interior of the tubular members communicating with the interior of the drum 22 andY being sealed from the atmosphere surrounding the collating unit.

A suitable conduit |00 is connected to the outer end of the tubular member 64 and communicates with a tubular sleeve |02 communicating with the cavity in a second conduit |04. A suitable packing gasket or gland |06 is mounted between members |00 and |04 and around member |02,

so as to seal the connection between the two conduits. In order to exert pressure upon packing gland or gasket |06, a suitable helical spring |08 is mounted between a pair of studs ||0 and ||2, so as to compress the gasket |06 to insure a tight fit.

The lower end of the conduit |04 communicates with the interior of a pick-up tube |20 mounted at its ends to a pair of brackets |22 and |24, each of which is pivotally mounted to stationary brackets |26 and |28 suitably attached to the angle iron 40. The pivots of the brackets |22 and |24 lie in a common center, so as to permit the pick-up member |20 to oscillate from operative position shown in Figure 3 to inoperative position shown in Figure 4. The tubular pick-up member |20 is provided with a concave groove or recess |30 in the lower edge thereof. This recess |30' extends throughout the operative range of the tubular pick-up member |20. A plurality of small suction apertures |32 extend throughout the length of the concave groove or recess |30. A helical spring |34 mounted in tension has one end fixed to a stud |36 mounted in the stationary bracket |26 and the opposite end engaging a stud |38 located in portion |40 forming an extension to the supporting bracket |22. The spring |34 at all times biases the brackets |22 and |24 into the inoperative position unless it is prevented from doing so by a latch |42 engaging a pin |44 in member |22 and pivotally mounted at |46 and normally urged into latching position'by a spring |48 engaging an extension |50 of the latch |42 and a stud |52 fixediy attached to the bracket |26. An extension |54 engages a stop |56 in member |26, so as to limit the counterclockwise movement of the latch |42, as viewed in Figure 3. When the pick-up tube 20 is located in the inoperative position, the latch |42 is out of engagement with the pin |44. The mechanism for actuating the pick-up tube from the inoperative to the operative position will now be described. f

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the base 20 supports a plurality of substantially radially disposed arms or shafts that may be supported in bearings |62, shown schematically in Figure 5. Each of these arms has the outer end |64, providing a stop, formed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of arm |60. Adjustably supported upon the rocker arm or shaft 60 is a contactrarm |66 that has a length such that it clears the angle iron 40 as the angle iron 40 rotates aboveV it. A contact element V|68 is adjustably mounted underneath the angle iron 40, so that when the angle iron, provided with the contact element |68, sweeps over member |66, it oscillates member |66` about the axis of arm |60, vso as to cause the stop V|64 to raise into the up position shown in Figure 5, when it engages an extension |10 integral with the bracket |22. As

the extension |70 engages the stop, the bracket |22, the bracket |24 and the paper-lifting tubular member |20' are adjusted from the inoperative position to the operative position causing the latch |42 to engage the pin |44 to hold the paperlifting tubularvmember |20 in this relative position with respect to the unit. This operation takes place when the pick-up unit passes over a stack of sheet material to be assembled in a predetermined order at some assembly station.

A vacuum or suction is created in the tubular member |20, so as to suck the paper and held the paper in contact with the tubular member the arm continues its rotation. It can readily be seen that when the extension |10 engages the stop |64, the tubular member |20 oscillates about the pivot, but does not move to any great extent relative to the underlying stack of sheet material to be assembled, excepting that it does advance downwardly so as to exert a pressure on the stack accesar to insure a goed contact, .so as to obtain the most effective use of the suction in the rich-up unit.. which suction isi-supplied to the pien-up lunit at the proper time through a suitable valve control mechanism that causes the vacuum to be supplied to the tubular member l at the ,DTOPBI' instant of time, which valve control mechanism will now be described.

As can best be seen by referring to Figure 6, the contact arms |66 are not equally ,spaced ra dially. Some are much closer to the center of the axis of rotation of the drum 22 than are others,

These may be adjusted outwardly or inwardly by means of an adjusting screw |12 mounted in `a hub or collar |14 forming the inner` support of the contact arm |69. The contact elements ,|58 are so positioned underneath the angle irons Ml that the contact arm |650, shown in bhgure 6, en! gages the contact element |68 under one of the angle irons |38. Contact arm |66b may be so positioned that it is engaged by the same contact ele= ment |68. It may be readily seen that contact arm |66c is closer to the drum and will engage some other contact element |68 located in proper position underneath the angle iron .40. Contact arms |66d, |59e, |66f and |669 are progressively located closer to the center of the ans of rotation of the drum 22.

Stacks of material Mila, b, c, d, e, f and g'represent stacks of sheet material to be assembled and deposited in predetermined order upon a stacking station |82.

Valve control mechanism The valve control mechanism can best be seen by referring to Figures 2, 4 and 5. The bracket |24 has an upwardly extending projection |90 that has pivotally attached thereto a releasing lever or link |92 that is provided with a notch engaging a stud |94 nxedly mounted to a lever |96 pivoted at |98 to the bracket |28 and having its lower end provided with a latch portion |99a engaging a iixed pin 200 carried upon a rocker arm 222 pivoted upon a pivot 204 that is cornmon to the pivot of the bracket 24. This rocker arm` 202 has an upwardly extending projection or lpawl 299 engaging a`roller2|l8 ixedly attached to the pin 299, thereby permitting the rocker arm 292 to rotate in a clockwise direction by virtue of the force` exerted by the roller '208 engaging the upper projection 295 of member 292, which roller is carried on the bracket 82 on collar 8|)V actuated by the springV 2|9, so as to move the apertures BE out or" registry with the apertures 'l2 and cause the apertures 88 to register with the apertures 19. In so doing, it connects the interior of the tubular member |20 through conduit |04, tubular sleeve |02, conduit |90, the tubular member 64, the tubular member 14, the tubular member 69 and the hollow tube 56 to the interior of the hollow drum 22 that is connected through a suitable conduit 220 to a vacuum pump 222 driven by a suitable V-belt 224 by an electric motor ,225. This supplies a vacuum tg pion-up tube 6 |29, causing a suction through the suction anertures |32 the groove that has been pressed downwardly against the underlying stack of sheet material |89 supported upon an adjustable support, which will be described more fully later.

rlhe sheet that has been picked up by the collating unit is held by suction against the tubular member until the collating unit holding the particular sheet advances over the assembly stacking station |82. As it advances over this station, a stop 23|) engages the lower end 232 of the rocker arm 202, causing the rocker arm 292 to rotate in a oounterolookwise direction, as viewed in Fig i ure 4, thereby oscillating the collar 8|) and the tubular member 7,4, to cause the valve mechanism to advance the apertures 86 into registry with the apertures 12 and move the apertures 88 out of registry with the apertures 76. This does two things, ,In the iirst place, it shuts oi` the vacuum passage extending from the vacuum pump to the pick-up tube |20. At the same time, it admits air through the apertures 'I2 and 86, so as to cause the vacuum in the pick-up tube |20 to be broken and this pick-up tube to be iilled with iii-rushing air, thereby causing the sheet to be. deposited upon the sheets found in the. stacking station |82.

As the rocker arm 262 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, a spring 239, having one end attached to a stud 236 carried by the bracket |28, and the opposite end connectedto the stud |92, holds the lever |96 which has the latch portion |96@ in engagement with the pin 206 on the rocker arm 262, so as to prevent the rocker arm from returning in a counterclockvvise direction.` In other words, the latch portion |9911 engages the pin 209, preventing return movement of the rocker arm 262 and preventing the tension spring 2|9 from contracting, thereby holding the valve in the position into which it has been adjusted.

As the collating unit advances beyond the stacking station |82, a downwardly projecting extension 252 engages a fixed stop 252 located at the edge of the stacking station |82, causing the latch |42 to disengage the pin |44, so as to permit the tension spring |34 to snap the tubular member |29 from operative position into inoperatve position. In so doing, the lever or link- |92, `which has raised into Adot-dash position by virtue of the coaction of the extension 254 engaging a suitable collar 25e surrounding the pivot 294 and thespring 26|) having one end attached to the bracket |2ii at 262 and the opposite end connected by a stud at 2t!! to the extension 254, is then permitted'to move down into the posi'- tionL shown in Figure .4. This causes the lever or link |92 to latch the stud |94 integral with the lever |99 `in position to again release the valve when the brackets |22 and |29 are oscillated so as to move the tubular pick-up tube |26 from the inoperative position to the operative position.

It is quite desirable that the stack of material at each of the supply stations be maintained at the proper level, so that the top of the stack of materials to be collated is located at the proper height for the pick-up unit to properly engage the top sheet. This has been accomplished hydraulically by a mechanism that will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, a `stach has been shown. it is mounted on an adjustable table or support 399, supported on a piston rod .392 projecting into a oylindrioal cavity 3.04. Hy-

. draulio iiud .holds the ram at the proper height,

7 In order to control the supply of hydraulic fluid,

a sensitive iinger or feeler 3 I Il is pivotally mounted at SI2 to a bracket 3M atta-ched to the side of the hollow base 20. As the sheets are removed from the stack |80, the iinger or feeler 3 in moves downwardly, so as to actuate a rod SIS connected to a pair of valves 3|8 and 32E) communicating with a pair of conduits 322 and 324. A cylindrical cavity 326, having mountedA therein the piston-like valve members 318 and 329, is connected by an exhaust conduit 330 to a suitable hydraulic iiuid reservoir, not shown. A supply conduit 332 is connected to an electrically driven hydraulic pump 334, drivenV from the electric motor 226 through a V-belt 336. Pressure is at all times maintained in the conduit 332. This ,conduit 332 empties into the cylindrical cavity 326 between the two piston-like valve members SIB and 320. It can be readily seen that as the rod SIS moves downwardly, the valve member 3i il opens the port communicating with the conduit 322 connected to the fluid above the piston 346 connected to the rod 332. The port in the wall of the cavity 326 communicating with the conduit 324 is then uncovered by the valve 323, which is lowered. Whenever this takes place, the fluid under pressure in the conduit 332 is used in supplying pressure to the hydraulic duid located in the conduit 324 communicating withthe cylindrical cavity below the piston 34B, thereby causing the piston 343 to raise, and with it the stack of paperA E80, until the sensitive nger 3i@ closes the valve members, thereby arresting further upward movement of the piston and thereby arresting theexhaust of the hydraulic fluid from the cavity above the piston. y

The exhaust fluid may be utilized in controlling the height of thestack of papers located at the collating station. This is accomplished by supplying the exhausted hydraulic luid to a similar piston located underneath the stack of material that is being accumulated in the proper order. By this arrangement, as the stacks of supply material are diminished, the cumulative effect thereof is transmitted to the collating station, so as to lower the piston in this station, to thereby maintain the stack material at the proper height. i

In the modication disclosed in Figures 8 and 9, an electric control mechanism for controlling the various collating units has been shown. This electric control mechanism includes a drum 43B mounted for rotation about an axis 4&2 driven in synchronism with the rotation of the collating units, so that the drum 43d makes one revolution for every revolution of the colla-ting rnachine. rEhe drum 433 is provided with a plurality ciV cylindrical cavities 404, having mounted therein a 4cylindrical member 436 provided with an arm or extension 4138. The cylindrical member 466 is provided with a pairof semispherical cavities 4l@ and 4|2, engaged by a cylindrical plunger 414 spring-urged upwardly. When member 4F25 is mounted in such a position that the plunger M4 engages the cavity 4m, the extension 408 lies substantially within the surface of the drum. When the cylindrical member 485 is adjusted in the cavity so that the cylindrical plunger 4 I4 engages the cavity 4l2, the extension 408 projects outwardly in a radial direction from lthe surface of the drum. There are a number of members 406 having extensions flii.v These are arranged in rows and tiers, as clearly shown in the portion of theV drawing Ishown in Figure 8.

`As the drum rotates, the extensions 438 pass 'an arm'420 pivoted at 422, each arm 420 being arranged so as to engage a movable switch member 424 controlling an electric switch 428. Due to the fact that the switches are larger than the distance between rows of extensions 408, the switches have been arranged in groups or rows parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum. For example, four rows may be used, only two of which have been shown in Figure 8. Each switch is connected by a suitable lead or conductor 430 to its relay 432 that may be mounted in the path of the extension il, so that-when the relay is energized, it raises a stop member 434 so as to trip the extension, thereby actuating the mechalnism controlled thereby. The relays are mounted so that there is one relay for each collating station and elsewhere as may be required.

Whenever the collating machine is to Ibe used, the proper extensions 403 are adjusted from the inoperative position to the operative position, or vice versa, so as to control the proper stations, thereby controlling the collating unit from a central control station.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack, said collating machine including a support, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheets, a plurality of sheet pick-up units traveling in a path` overlying said series of supply stacks of various types of sheets to be assembled intothe common stack, means for causing the pick-up units to move into` engagement with predetermined supply stacks for vpicking up sheets, said means including a rotatably mounted drum, outwardly projecting arms mounted in the periphery of the drum and electrical means responsive to the arms passing a predetermined position for controlling the pick-up. units, means for actuating the drum in synchronism with the pick-up units, and means for causing said pick-up units to deposit said sheets in predetermined order upon the common stack.

2QA collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack; said collating machine including a support; means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; rotatable means mounted upon said support; a plurality ofv collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for causing predetermined collating units to move into engagement with selected stacks; said means including a drum rotating in synchronism with the movement of the collating units, a plurality of electric switches mounted in proximity to the drum, and

means selectively positioned on the drum fory actuating said switches, means responsive to the switches being actuated for controlling the movement of the collating units; and means for causing the collating units todeposit said sheets in predetermined order upon the common stack.

3." A collating machine for stacking various 9 types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack; said collating machine including a support; means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; rotatable means mounted upon said support for rotation in a horizontal plane; a plurality `of collating units radially mounted upon said ro tatable means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying aplurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for causing predetermined collating units to move into engagement with selected stacks; said means for causing the cole latihg unit to move into contact with selected stacks including a plurality of radially disposed rocker shafts one for each of the collating units, a plurality of rocker arms one for each of the shafts, said rocker arms being adjustably mounted upon the rocker` shafts so as to permit the rocker arms to be located in various radial posi tions, contacts adjustably mounted on the collating units and arranged to engage certain rocker arms to actuate the same when the collating unit supporting a contact is in position for picking up a sheet from a predetermined stack; and means responding to the movement of the rocker arms for causing the collating units to pick up sheets from the stacks.

4. A collating machine for stacking' various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack; said collating machine including a support; means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; ro tatable means `mounted upon said support for rotation in a horizontal plane; a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in 'a horizontally dis posed circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for causing predetermined collating units to move into engagement ywith selected stacks; said means for causing the collating unit to move into contact with selected stacks including a plurality of radially disposed rocker shafts one for each of the collating units, a plurality of rocker arms one for each of the shafts', said rocker arms being adjustably mounted upon the rocker shafts so as to permit the rocker arms to be located in various radial positions, contacts adjustably mounted on the collating units and arranged to engage certain rocker arms to actuate the same when the collating unit supporting a contact is in position to pick up a sheet from a predetermined stack; means responding to the movement of the rocker arms for causing the collatingfunits to pick up sheets from the stacks; and means for causing the collating units to deposit the sheets in predetermined order upon the common stack. i

5. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack; said collating machine including a support; means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; rotatable means mountedupon said support for rotation in a horizontal plane; a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said ro-n tatable means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in a horizontal plane circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for causing predetermined collating units to move into engagement with selected stacks; said means for causing the collating units to move into contact with selected stacks` including a plurality of radially disposed rocker shafts one for each of the collating units; a plurality of rocker arms one for each of the shafts; said rocker arms being adjustably mounted upon the rocker shafts so as to permit the rocker arms to be located in various radial positions, said rocker arms being adjusted into radial positions to cause the proper collating unit to'pick up a sheet from aipredetermined stack of sheet material; means moving with the collating units `and arranged to engage certain rocker arms to actuate the same; and means responding to the movement of the rocker arms to cause the collating units to pick up sheets from the stacks. n

6. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack; said collating machine including a support; means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; ro`

tatable means Ymounted upon said support for rotation in a horizontal plane; a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in a horizontally disposed circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for causing predetermined collating units to move into engagement with selected stacks; said means for causing the collating units to move into contact with selected stacks including a plurality of radially disposed rocker shafts one for each of the collating units; a plurality of rocker arms one for each of the shafts; said rocker arms being adjustably mounted upon the rocker shafts so as to permit the rocker arms to be located in various radial positions, said rocker arms being adjusted into radial positions to cause the proper collating unit to pick up a sheet from a predetermined Astack of 'sheet material; means moving with the collating units and arranged to engage certain rocker arms to actuate the same; means responding to the movement of the rocker arms to cause the collating units to pick up sheets from the stacks; and means for causing the colflating units to deposit the sheets in predeter-V of collating units radially mounted upon. said ro-A tatable means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for actuating the collating units into engagement with selected stacks; said means including rocker arms pivotally mounted upon fixed pivots, contacts carried by the collating units in the path of one or more of the rocker arms, there being one rocker arm for each stack; means responding to the movement of the rocker arms for initiating the movement of the collating units towards the selected stacks; means for causing the collating units to deposit the sheets in predetermined order upon the common stack, said last mentioned means including a common stop causing each succeeding collating unit to deposit its sheet upon the common stack `when the collating unit passes over said common stop; a fixed stop mounted in iix'ed relation with re*- spect to the support,said xed stop being located beyond said common stop; and a re-set member I 1 carried by thev collating unit engaging the fixed stop to cause the collating umts to move into the initial position in readiness for a succeeding cycle.

8. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack; said collating machine including a support; means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; rctatable means mounted upon said support; a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for causing predetermined collating units to move into engagement with selected stacks; said means for causing the collating units to move into contact with selected stacks including a plurality of radially disposed rocker shafts one for each of the collating units, a plurality of rocker arms one for each of the shafts, said rocker arms being adjustably mounted upon the rocker shafts so as to permit the rocker, arms to be located in various radial positions; means moving with the collating units and arranged to engage certain rocker arms to actuate the same; means responding to the move ment of the rocker arms to cause the collating units to pick up sheets from the stacks; means for causing the collating units to deposit the sheets in predetermined order upon the common stack, said last mentioned means including a common stop causing each succeeding collating unit to deposit its sheet upon the common stack when the collating unit passes over said common stop; a Xed stop mounted in fixed relation with respect to the support; said xed stop being located beyond said common stop; and a re-set member carried by the collating unit engaging the xed stop to cause the collating units to move into the initial position in readiness for a succeeding cycle.

9. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack, said collating machine including a support, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, rotatable means mounted upon said support, a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith, said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, a` plurality of stop means mounted upon the xed support, there being one of said stop means for each of the stacks, said stop means including an adjustably mounted member adjustable radially so as to vary the radial distance of said adjustable members, adjustable means carried by the collating units, said adjustable means being adjustable radially into alignment with selected members so that as the adjustable means on the collating units engages the adjustable member the stop means is actuated from an inoperative position to an operative position, and means carried by the collating unit for engaging said stop means when in operative position to cause the corresponding collating unit to pick up a sheet from the stack.

10. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack, said collating machine including a support, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, rotatable means mounted upon said support, a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith,

said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, a plurality of stop means mounted upon the ixed support, there being one of said stop means for each of the stacks, said stop means including an adjustably mounted member adjustable radially so as to vary the radial distance of said adjustable members, adjustable means carried by the collating units, said adjustable means being adjustable radially into alignment with selected members so that as the adjustable means on the collating units engages the adjustable member the stop means is actuated from an inoperative position to an operative position, means carried by the collating unit for engaging said stop means when in opern ative position to cause the corresponding collating unit to pick up a sheet from the stack, and means for causing the collating units to deposit the picked up sheets on the common stack.

1l. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack, said collating machine including a support, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, 'rotatable means mounted upon said support, a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith, said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of Various types of sheet material, means for causing the collating units to pick up sheets from said plurality of stacks of sheets in predetermined order and` deposit the sheets upon said common stack, and hydraulic means for automatically raising each of said plurality of stacks as sheets are removed therefrom so as to maintain the height of the stack substantially constant, and means for supplying exhausted hydraulic iiuid to the hydraulic means controlling the height of the common stack so that said hydraulic means lowers said common stack in proportion to the raising of said several stacks of said plurality of stacks.

12. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack, saidcollating machine including a support, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet materiahrotatable means mounted upon said support, a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith,

said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, means for causing the collating units to pickup sheets from said plurality of stacks of sheets in predetermined order and deposit the sheets upon said common stack, hydraulic means for automatically raising each of said plurality of stacks as sheets are removedY therefrom, said hydraulic means including a plurality of sensitive feelers one for each of said plurality of stacks, said feelers being mounted in contact with the top of their respective stacks, and control means for the hydraulic means responsive to the movement of the sensitive feelers for causing the stacks to be raised as the sheets are withdrawn, and means for lowering the common stack in proportion to the raising of said several stacks of said plurality of stacks, said last mentioned means including means for sup-l plying exhausted hydraulic uid to the hydraulic means controlling the height of the common stack so that said hydraulic means lowers saidV common stack in proportion to the raising of the said several stacks.

13. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheets in predetermined order upon a common stack, said collating machine including a support, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, rotatable means mounted upon said support, a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotatable means so as to rotate therewith, said collating units traveling in a circular path overlying a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material, means for causing the collating units to pick up sheets from said plurality of stacks of sheets in predetermined order and deposit the sheets upon said common stack, hydraulic means for automatically raising each of said plurality of stacks as sheets are removed therefrom, said hydraulic means including a plurality of sensitive feelers one for each of said plurality of stacks, said feelers being mounted in contact with the top of their respective stacks, control means for the hydraulic means responsive to the movement of the sensitive feelers for causing the stacks to be raised as the sheets are withdrawn, and means responsive to the raising of said plurality of stacks for lowering the common stack in proportion.

14. A device for controlling the height of a plurality of stacks of sheet material having sheets removed therefrom, said device including hydraulic means for raising each of said stacks as sheets are removed therefrom, said hydraulic means including a plurality of sensitive feelers one for each of said stacks, said feelers being mounted in contact with the top of their respective stacks, control means for causing the hydraulic means to raise the stacks having sheets removed therefrom in response to the movement of the sensitive feelers for causing the tops of the stacks to be maintained at a uniform height, and means responsive to said hydraulic means for lowering the common stack in proportion to the raising of the several stacks having sheets removed therefrom.

15. In a control mechanism a cylindrical drum provided with peripherally located grooves extending axially, said grooves including cylindrical portions, a plurality of cylindrical members adjustably mounted in the grooves, said cylindrical members upon being positioned in the grooves forming rows extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical drum, the cylindrical members being arranged in parallel tiers lying in parallel planes normal to the axis of rotation, each of said cylindrical members being provided with a projection, said projection having an inoperative position when the projection is located substantially Within the periphery of the cylindrical drum and an operative position when the projection projects beyond the cylindrical drum, and means for holding the cylindrical members in adjusted position.

16. A collating machine for stacking various types of sheet material in predetermined order upon a common stack; said collating machine including a support, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; rotating means mounted upon said support rotating in a horizontal plane; a plurality of collating units radially mounted upon said rotating means so as to rotate therewith; said collating units traveling in a horizontally disposed circular path overlying said plurality of stacks of various types of sheet material; means for causing predetermined collating units to move into engagement with selected stacks, said means for causing the collating units to move into engagement with the selected stacks including a plurality of rocker shafts, said rocker shafts being journalled in fixed bearings, said rocker shafts being equally spaced from the center of said rotating means, a plurality of arms, there being one arm adjustably mounted upon each rocl1e1 shaft, there being at least one rocker shaft for each of said aforementioned stacks, said arms being adjustably mounted upon said rocker shafts in unequal distances from the center of rotation of said rotating means; a plurality of contact members adjustably mounted upon the collating units, there being one contact member for each collating unit, said contact members being unequally spaced from the center of rotation of the rotating means, each contact member engaging at least one arm while rotating with the collating unit through one revolution so that as the contact member engages an arm the arm is rocked and with it the rocker shaft, a plurality of stops mounted upon the rocker shafts, there being one stop for each rocker shaft, said stops being actuated from an inoperative position into an operative position in response to movement o f the arm on the shaft, means carried by each of the collating units engaging the stop that has been actuated into operative position by the contact member for causing each of the collating units to move into contact with its selected stack, means for causing the collating units to pick up a sheet of material from said supply stack, and means for causing the collating unit to deposit the picked up sheets in predetermined order upon the common stack, the order being determined by the adjustment of the arms and the contact members.

17. In a collating machine and in combination, a rotary collector head, means for rotating said head, a plurality of vertically movable arms connected to said collector head, extending radially therefrom and rotating therewith, a vacuum actuated sheet pick-up element carried. on each of said arms, a source of vacuum communicating with each of said pick-up elements, sheet-stack tables and a sheet receiving table arranged circumferentially of said collector head, each of said tables being positioned below and in the orbit of said pick-up elements means for lowering and raising said pick-up elements when in position above the sheet-stack tables, vacuum control means effective upon said sheet pick-up elements to cause them to pick up the uppermost sheets on said stacks when in lowered sheetengaging position, and to release said sheets'for deposit upon the sheet receiving table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 565,146 Smyth Aug. 4, 1896 715,890 Smyth et al Dec.. 16, 1902 794,146 Ericson July 4, 1905 1,711,647 Milmoe May 7, 1929 1,941,106 Park, Jr Dec. 26, 1933 2,089,861 Schlensker Aug. 10, 1937 2,159,987 Hartmann et al May 30, 1939 2,247,466 Baker July 1, 1941 2,288,755 Taggart July 7, 1942 2,324,523 Lund July 20, 1943 2,435,915 Williams Feb. 10, 1948 

